What is she doing?!?!

[Meagan83]

I have noticed my hen doing something really weird for the last 3 days. It's this weird head motion... She seems to do it when she is bored or something because she is eating fine and still taking care of her babies like normal. But when she has been out of the nest for a few moments and finishes eating and drinking she flies to the top perch and starts this weird motion. If I approach the cage she will stop and look at me, so I know she's not totally crazy. WHAT IS SHE DOING ??? (please tell me it's not the start of "twirling" )

[dfcauley]

Gosh.... I am not sure but I sure hope someone can help. Perhaps she has some sort of ear problems........

[L in Ontario]

I can't really tell from this distance but I don't think it's any precursor to twirling. I don't know what she's doing either - never seen anything quite like it.

[Meagan83]

I can't really tell from this distance but I don't think it's any precursor to twirling. I don't know what she's doing either - never seen anything quite like it.

Did you watch the whole clip? I got closer halfway through the vid. It's so odd...

[MLaRue]

I think it is a neurotic behavior not twirling. If she was really twirling she wouldn't be able to pick her head back up and keep it up nor would she be so tight on the perch. Real twirlers usually can't stay on the perch - they can't keep their balance. Plus twirling tends to work the whole body in a circular motion. I could be wrong but I don't think this is twirling.

[Ameza]

If you don't mind me asking, what is twirling?

[MLaRue]

If you don't mind me asking, what is twirling?

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling.mgi

[Meagan83]

Neurotic? Like a disorder or a head injury? She has only started it these past few days. She is such a good girl. Healthy, takes great care of her babies, adores her mate. I am so confused.

[L in Ontario]

I can't really tell from this distance but I don't think it's any precursor to twirling. I don't know what she's doing either - never seen anything quite like it.

Did you watch the whole clip? I got closer halfway through the vid. It's so odd...

You're right - I didn't watch the whole thing before. I did now and I still don't know what it could be. You don't use teflon cookware, do you? Perhaps she is very (overly?) sensitive to odours...? She looks beautiful and does not have any balance issues at this time. I hope she recovers for you!

[Meagan83]

We rarely cook.
Also they stay in a closed room. None of the other birds are acting oddly. I just don't know what it is. Maybe she developed OCD? lol
I did once have a spice finch that would look at the roof of his cage and fly tight circles all day long when he wasn't eating or hanging with his brother. Can birds have OCD?

[nixity]

I think I'm leaning more towards agreement with the precursor to twirling idea.. only because usually neuroses are a chronic behavior that you see all the time, so it wouldn't have just suddenly started if you've never seen her do this before.
You would have noticed it right after you got her..

To me it looks like she's doing it compulsively as if she can't control it.

I'm wondering if the stress of raising babies has triggered something.. like brought an infection out of remission..
I hope not, but this isn't normal..
I've seen neurotic star gazing, this isn't it :\

[Meagan83]

Oh dear

[MLaRue]

But chronic behavior has start somewhere - I've seen twirling in all stages and because she can pick her head up and keep it straight up I just can't see that it is twirling yet. Plus she can stay on the perch - a real twirler can't keep their bodies on the perch like that.

I hope she isn't twirling - if she is I would put her on something like Baytril or TriMeth Sulfa right away to catch the problem before it does more damage. The hen I took to the Vet had his views and was adamant in thinking it starts in the ear canal as an infection and does permanent damage. It makes sense but I still don't agree this is the case every time for each bird.

Most twirlers start with a very slight head tilt all the time.

[nixity]

Does it always start out where they can't keep their head straight or stay on the perch tho? I would think it can be progressive..
I should stay out of it cause I've never had to deal with Twirling :\
I just thought the behavior looked neurological moreso than neurotic-al

[Meagan83]

I will keep an eye on her and let everyone know if anything changes.